HC Deb 26 November 1946 vol 430 cc289-90W
Mr. Battley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the numbers, separately, of boys and girls in remand homes and in approved schools in England and Wales at the present time; how many are waiting in remand homes for vacancies in approved schools; and the total number of boys and girls who have been admitted to remand homes and approved schools during the 12 month period following the Great War, 1939–45.

Mr. Ede

At the end of last month there were 8,916 boys and 1,968 girls in approved schools and the number of boys and girls in remand homes awaiting removal to approved schools was 461 boys and 110 girls. To give the total number of boys and girls at present in remand homes would mean asking for a special return from each local authority and I am reluctant to impose this work on the staffs of local authorities. An annual return is made of the number of children and young persons received in remand homes upon apprehension, remand, committal for trial or to custody, and to await removal to approved schools, and for the year 1945 the total number of such receptions was 9,257 boys and 2,051 girls. 4,168 boys and 1,117 girls were admitted to approved schools during the twelve months following the 1939–45 war.